# Salem State University: Visual and Performing Arts (bachelor's)

Salem, MA. IPEDS 167729, CIP 50.01. Page: https://educationguide.com/colleges/salem-state-university/majors/visual-and-performing-arts

## Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings 1 year after graduating: $24,699
- Median earnings 4 years after graduating: $32,484 (U.S. median for this major: $41,156 across 62 colleges)
- Median federal loan debt: $27,000 (U.S. median $25,773)
- Rank in MA: 4 of 4 colleges by 4-year earnings
- Versus the MA median for this major (4 colleges, $38,856): -$6,372
- Versus the U.S. median: -$8,672

## Cost to finish and years to pay back (EducationGuide calculation)
School-wide net price x 4.32 years (average time graduates took). Earnings gain = $32,484 minus $39,880 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MA (Census ACS 2020-2024).

| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | $10,516 | $45,429 | no earnings gain |
| 30-48k | $13,870 | $59,918 | no earnings gain |
| 48-75k | $13,821 | $59,707 | no earnings gain |
| 75-110k | $17,590 | $75,989 | no earnings gain |
| 110k+ | $23,223 | $100,323 | no earnings gain |

Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score#value

## Visual and Performing Arts at MA colleges
| College | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lesley University | $49,175 | $26,000 | $31,152 | 58% |
| Worcester State University | $39,037 | not reported | $13,381 | 62% |
| University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | $38,676 | $27,000 | $20,927 | 52% |
| Salem State University | $32,484 | $27,000 | $15,996 | 50% |

## Careers
- Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024): median wage $78,270 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, $76,710 MA, $62,960 U.S.; U.S. jobs -1.7% by 2035
- Art Directors (SOC 27-1011): median wage $151,820 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, $149,320 MA, $114,850 U.S.; U.S. jobs 4.2% by 2035

## Sources and years
- Earnings (4 yr): Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars; debt: NSLDS pooled AY2018-19, AY2019-20 cohort

Free to reuse with attribution: cite "EducationGuide.com" with a link to the page URL. Most figures are U.S. government data (public domain); loan default rates and athletics come from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By 1.0, attribution required) and founding years from Wikidata (CC0).